| Tsumugi | Guy-san, I need to carry this pot over there, but could you help me out? It’s a little too cold over here during this season.... |
| Guy | All right. |
| Tsumugi | Thank you. |
| Tsuzuru | ...Gzzz. |
| Tasuku | Geez. You really need to understand your own limits.... |
| Tsumugi | Huh, Tasuku? |
| Tasuku | Ah, there you are, both of you. We’re all meeting up in the practice room. The script is done. |
| Tsumugi | Looks like it. |
| Tsuzuru | ...Gzzz. |
| Guy | Should I help you carry that too? |
| Tasuku | Thanks. |
| Tsumugi | Guy-san, let’s leave the flower beds for after practice. |
| Guy | All right. |
| |
| Izumi | .... |
| (A new take on “The Phantom of the Opera” where Christine is a man....) |
| (He removed the romance and focused more on the suspense of investigating the Phantom’s past.) |
| (A story of destiny and friendship between opera singers set in a theater....) |
| Tasuku | It’s interesting. |
| Tsumugi | I like the mix of suspense and friendship as themes. |
| Homare | This reminds me of our second performance. This play is a little more focused on suspense. |
| Azuma | There are lots of scenes where the characters are standing on a stage. That will make the costumes and makeup shine. |
| Tasuku | This time, the villain is a complete villain. That’s a first. |
| Hisoka | ...It’s the first time we’ve seen this in a Winter Troupe script. |
| Azuma | It’s quite human; I think it’s good. |
| Izumi | (Everyone seems excited from reading the script.) |
| (Tsumugi-san and Tasuku-san were always like this, but I feel like Azuma-san, Hisoka-san, and Homare-san’s attitudes towards theater have begun to change.) |
| (As for Guy-san....) |
| Guy | .... |
| Izumi | What do you think? |
| Guy | ...I don’t know, but I think it’s good. |
| Izumi | (Hmm, just as I thought, I can’t read his emotions.) |
| (The Phantom is a character whose sole reason for living is revenge; he harbors loathing and sadness within his heart.) |
| (I’m a little worried that Guy-san can’t learn to express those emotions....) |
| Tsumugi | ...The Phantom is a difficult role. |
| Tasuku | Subdued emotions require more technique than passionate ones. |
| Azuma | His appearance and atmosphere are perfect, but. |
| Izumi | (I’m not surprised that everyone else is worried. We need to clear this hurdle before the performance.) |
| Let’s start with reading the script out loud once. |
| |
| Tsumugi | “Are you truly a ghost? Why do you go so far to keep singing, even as a ghost? Are you possessed by song?” |
| Guy | “You must be right.” |
| Tsumugi | “I want to prove your existence. Won’t you sing on stage once more? That’s why you continue to sing, right?” |
| Guy | “...That is impossible. I am but a shadow.” |
| Izumi | (Yup, the Phantom’s emotional expressions are going to be our biggest problem this time.) |
| .... |
| (He’s serious about practice; so long as he learns to express his emotions....) |
| —That’s it for morning practice today. Let’s do the rest in the afternoon. |
| Nice work, everyone. |
| Homare | Nice work. |
| Hisoka | ...I’m tired. |
| Izumi | (I should consult Tsumugi-san regarding what to do about Guy-san’s practice....) |
| Tsumugi-san, can we hold a short meeting? |
| Tsumugi | Yes. Guy-san, please go ahead to the yard first. |
| Guy | All right. |
| |
| Hisoka | ...Zzzz. |
| Guy | .... |
| (We left the practice room at the same time... When did he get there?) |
| |
| Homare | I prefer Hisoka-kun as he is. |
| Preparing marshmallows is the only thing I can do for him as he fights a lonely battle; that’s why it’s not a burden. |
| |
| Guy | (You’re supposed to use a marshmallow to wake Mikage up....) |
| Hisoka | ...Nom. |
| ...Omnom. |
| Guy | Are you fighting something, Mikage? |
| Hisoka | .... |
| ...The past. |
| Guy | The past? |
| Hisoka | ...I regained my lost memories a short while back. Memories of losing someone precious to me.... |
| ...I’m fighting in order to accept that past. |
| Guy | .... |
| Hisoka | ...I think you’re a bit like me, Guy. |
| ...I was running from my past unconsciously because I didn’t want to recall my painful memories. |
| What are you running from, Guy? |
| Guy | ——. |
| (I... am running away?) |
| |
| Citron | <<Guy, look at this. The jasmines blossomed beautifully this year too. Their fragrance always puts my heart at ease.>> |
| Guy | <<...Is that so.>> |
| Citron | <<...I suppose you can’t understand.>> |
| Guy | <<....>> |
| |
| Guy | (Back then, too. I—.) |
| Hisoka | —Ah. |
| Guy | Is something wrong? |
| Hisoka | ...I’m about to run out of marshmallows. |
| Guy | You should get some from Arisugawa. |
| Hisoka | ...I’m tired of Alice’s marshmallows. I want Azuma’s fancy ones. |
| Guy | .... |
| (When I look at him like this, he’s the same as my first impression, but... Does everyone have a different side to them than I thought...?) |
| ...In your opinion, Mikage, what kind of person is Yukishiro? |
| Hisoka | Azuma is... kind. He’s always calm. |
| But sometimes, I feel like I need to protect him. |
| Guy | Protect..? Even though Yukishiro is an emotionally independent adult? |
| Hisoka | Yes. |
| Guy | .... |
